Review by jayisreading - Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

jayisreading 's review for:

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker

3.5

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

I really wanted to like this novel more than I did, but it somewhat fell flat for me. For the positives, though, I thought Baker did a great job writing gore and body horror in a way that would send chills down the backs of many readers, and I want to say the reason it worked so well was because she didn’t turn it into a spectacle to ogle at. Instead, there was intention behind each horrific scene, all of which tied to another positive about this book, which was the commentary on racism and, to a slightly lesser extent, misogyny that East Asian women faced. I think what really made all of this come together was actually the author’s note, particularly her emphasis on the necessity of BIPOC solidarity in the face of white supremacy. I also thought that the protagonist, Cora, was well-written, even if I admittedly wasn’t a huge fan of her. On that note, Baker did such a great job capturing Cora’s neuroticism (almost alarmingly so), to the point that I felt I was experiencing what she was going through when reading certain passages.

What didn’t work as well for me was mainly the execution and development. Cora had significant character development, but I felt the other characters severely lacked in comparison. I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were cardboard cutouts, but I really wanted them to be more fleshed out, particularly Aunt Zeng. Somewhat relatedly, Aunt Zeng was a fascinating character to me, especially because it was clear Baker wanted to add Chinese mythology and superstitions in the novel, and the aunt played a large role on this front. Unfortunately, I personally thought the integration of Chinese culture didn’t quite work, and at times, seemed forced. I want to say it might be because there may have been one too many ideas being juggled in this novel. Lastly—and without giving any spoilers—I didn’t love the ending, in part because of a certain trope that was used that I’m not the biggest fan of.

Despite my personal issues, I still think Baker brought to attention important topics that make this book worth picking up, especially if you’re into horror. Furthermore, the COVID pandemic setting might be a little too fresh for some, but I thought it was approached in a way that didn’t come off as insensitive or anything. Your mileage may vary with this book, is all I can say.

Content Warnings